MODELING OF TURBULENT DIFFUSION FLAMES AND FIRE PLUMES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FIRE GROWTH.

Measurements of temperature, velocity and irradiance, and observation of flame height were made in the near field of the turbulent diffusion flames from a porous burner with propane as fuel located in a large area simulating semi-infinite space, on a thermally thick wall and in a wall-corner. The data on the upward currents in the semi-infinite space were compared with an integral model of turbulent diffusion flames derived without assuming the entrainment hypothesis. The nature of diffusion flame as an external radiation source is also studied based on the model. The experiments on wall plumes have shown that the maximum excess temperature and velocity at each height are proportional to z/sup -1/ and z/sup 0/, respectively, and that the width of the flame or plume normal to the wall does not develop significantly with height. The experiments on the flames in a wall-corner show that the height of flame in a wall-corner is approximately proportional to 3/5 power of heat input, instead of its 2/5 power in a free space or on a wall.